Leptenchelys vermiformis — Details

Slender Worm-eel learn more about names for this taxon

Overview

Comprehensive Description

Description

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Common names: worm-eel (English), tieso (Espanol)
 
Leptenchelys vermiformis Myers & Wade, 1941

Slender worm-eel

Long, cylindrical, wormlike; tail 42% of TL; top of head and snout covered with papillae; head pointed with snout projecting well beyond mouth, with folds on underside; teeth on jaws and vomer uniserial, small, conical slightly curved; two teeth between top jaws and 2-4 on vomer; front nostril tubular, points down; rear nostril on underside of top lip; eye very small; gill openings low on sides, almost vertical, curved; gill pouch puffed out;  dorsal origin on head before gill opening, fin low anteriorly, higher and in groove posteriorly; pectorals absent;  tail tip flexible, visible tail fin confluent with dorsal and anal fins; lateral line extends onto head, with prominent raised pores over eye and on snout, branching around rear of eye and along top jaw, and with large pores along side of lower jaw.

Uniform light yellow.

Size: 12 cm.

Habitat: mud and sand bottoms.

Depth: 20-85 m.

Central Mexico and Costa Rica.

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Biology

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The only known specimen was obtained from dredging on mud bottoms at a depth of 20 m.
  • McCosker, J.E. and R.H. Rosenblatt 1995 Ophichthidae. Tiesos, serpentones. p. 1326-1341. In W. Fischer, F. Krupp, W. Schneider, C. Sommer, K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) Guia FAO para Identification de Especies para lo Fines de la Pesca. Pacifico Centro-Oriental. 3 Vols. FAO, Rome. (Ref. 9328)   http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=9328&speccode=13898 External link.
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Distribution

Range Description

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This species is known only from the holotype found off the coast of Costa Rica.
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Depth

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Depth Range (m): 20 (S) - 85 (S)
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Zoogeography

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See Map (including site records) of Distribution in the Tropical Eastern Pacific


 
Global Endemism: All species, East Pacific endemic, Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) endemic

Regional Endemism: All species, TEP endemic, Continental TEP endemic, Mexican + Panamic provinces endemic, Continent, Continent only

Residency: Resident

Climate Zone: Equatorial (Costa Rica to Ecuador + Galapagos, Clipperton, Cocos, Malpelo)

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Eastern Central Pacific: Costa Rica.
  • McCosker, J.E. and R.H. Rosenblatt 1995 Ophichthidae. Tiesos, serpentones. p. 1326-1341. In W. Fischer, F. Krupp, W. Schneider, C. Sommer, K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) Guia FAO para Identification de Especies para lo Fines de la Pesca. Pacifico Centro-Oriental. 3 Vols. FAO, Rome. (Ref. 9328)   http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=9328&speccode=13898 External link.
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Physical Description

Morphology

Size

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Length max (cm): 12.0 (S)
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Size

Max. size

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11.5 cm SL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 9328))
  • McCosker, J.E. and R.H. Rosenblatt 1995 Ophichthidae. Tiesos, serpentones. p. 1326-1341. In W. Fischer, F. Krupp, W. Schneider, C. Sommer, K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) Guia FAO para Identification de Especies para lo Fines de la Pesca. Pacifico Centro-Oriental. 3 Vols. FAO, Rome. (Ref. 9328)   http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=9328&speccode=13898 External link.
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Type Information

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Holotype for Leptenchelys vermiformis Myers & Wade
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Fishes
Preparation: Radiograph
Collector(s): W. Schmitt
Year Collected: 1935
Locality: Playa Blanca, Costa Rica, Costa Rica, Pacific
Depth (m): 73 to 73
  • Holotype: Myers, G. S. & Wade, C. B. 1941. Allan Hancock Pacific Expeditions. 9 (4): 73, pl. 10.
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Ecology

Habitat

Habitat and Ecology

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Habitat and Ecology
The only known specimen of this species was collected from dredging muddy substrate in Costa Rica at a depth of 20 m.

Systems
  • Marine
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Habitat

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Salinity: Marine, Marine Only

Inshore/Offshore: Inshore, Inshore Only

Water Column Position: Bottom, Bottom only

Habitat: Soft bottom (mud, sand,gravel, beach, estuary & mangrove), Soft bottom only, Mud

FishBase Habitat: Demersal
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Environment

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demersal; marine; depth range ? - 20 m (Ref. 9328)
  • McCosker, J.E. and R.H. Rosenblatt 1995 Ophichthidae. Tiesos, serpentones. p. 1326-1341. In W. Fischer, F. Krupp, W. Schneider, C. Sommer, K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) Guia FAO para Identification de Especies para lo Fines de la Pesca. Pacifico Centro-Oriental. 3 Vols. FAO, Rome. (Ref. 9328)   http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=9328&speccode=13898 External link.
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Trophic Strategy

Feeding

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Feeding Group: Carnivore

Diet: mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs), bony fishes
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Life History and Behavior

Reproduction

Reproduction

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Egg Type: Pelagic, Pelagic larva
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Conservation

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List Assessment

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Red List Category
DD
Data Deficient

Red List Criteria

Version
3.1

Year Assessed
2010

Assessor/s
McCosker, J., Béarez, P., and Lea, B.

Reviewer/s
Carpenter, K., Polidoro, B., Livingstone, S. (Global Marine Species Assessment Team)

Contributor/s

Justification
This species is only known from one specimen collected in Costa Rica, and little is known about this species' distribution, population, habitat requirements, or threats. It is listed as Data Deficient.
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Conservation status

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IUCN Red List: Not evaluated / Listed

CITES: Not listed
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Population

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Population
No population information is available for this species.

Population Trend
Unknown
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Threats

Threats

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Major Threats
There are no major threats known for this species.
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Data deficient (DD)
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Management

Conservation Actions

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Conservation Actions
There are no known specific conservation measures for this species.
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Wikipedia

Leptenchelys vermiformis

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Leptenchelys vermiformis, or the Slender Worm-eel, is a species of eel in the family Ophichthidae. It is the only member of its genus. It is found only in the Pacific Ocean in the vicinity of Costa Rica.

References


This Anguilliformes article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
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